SOUTHPORT students attacked the loss of their weekly allowance with some saying they had been put off college.

But other students confessed they used their Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) to fund social lives.

Tom McCarthy, 17, who is in his first year at KGV and receives £30 a week, said he needed the money to pay for his bus pass from Ormskirk each day.

He said: “It helps us get around. We need it.”

Despite protests against the EMA in Liverpool and London, Tom said many students were put off going because they would lose their weekly money.

KGV Principal Adele Wills said: “The key criterion for payment of EMA is attendance at college as the grant is intended to support a student in their studies.

“Unfortunately, joining the recent protests and consequently missing a day of college does not constitute a legitimate absence which means that payment cannot be approved.

“I am, of course, sympathetic to students who wish to express their displeasure at the cuts in a peaceful and rational way.

“However, I am not in a position to be able to authorise a day’s absence from college in order to do this.

“Essentially, this would constitute a misuse of public money which I am not able to justify.”

Southport College were in the same position.

Andrew Bibby, 21, who studied engineering at Southport College, said: “I feel that EMA was a motivation to go to college so by removing it, it will make students less inclined to attend.

“I would spend my EMA on necessities and travel.”

Bethany Thompson, 19, a former student at KGV used to get £30 a week said: “It will affect some people, who need the money for travel, but not all.”

“I got a £25 bus pass and that was all I needed throughout the year.

“I don’t believe it should have been cut completely, maybe reduced or better means tested.”

But another former KGV student, Victoria Charlton, 19, said the scrapping would not have impacted on her decision to go to college.

She said: “I spent my EMA on things like a social life as I didn’t really have a job or get pocket money.”

Graduate Celia Watson from the Merseyside Network Against Fees and Cuts encouraged students to protest on Saturday against the EMA being scrapped.

There will be twin marches in Manchester and London this weekend.

She also attacked Southport MP John Pugh for voted to abolish EMA which she claimed was even less progressive than raising tuition fees.

She said: “It puts his vote against tuition fees in serious doubt. It signals it was only a PR stunt of sorts.”

But Dr Pugh defended his decision. He said EMAs were not established as pocket money or social security.

He said: “With 80% of students getting EMA saying they would stay on anyway without it and the national cost amounting to half a billion pounds, it is time for a new scheme that focuses on the actual needs of the most disadvantaged and takes a hard look in particular at transport costs.”ŠŠ